Advancing Small-Scale Fisheries | 26 Feb 2025

Source: PIB 

India has taken over the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) from Bangladesh reinforcing its commitment to the blue economy. 

• India aims to improve livelihoods, sustainability, and economic development of the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF). 
• About BOBP-IGO (2003): It is a regional fisheries body supporting SSF in the Bay of Bengal.  
  • Members include Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand as cooperating non-contracting parties. 
• About SSF: SSF are traditional, low-capital fisheries by fishing households, using small vessels (if any), making short, nearshore trips either for subsistence or commercial purposes. 
• Global Importance of SSF:  

• Fisheries Sector in India: India is the world's 2^nd largest fish producer, with 28 million people engaged in the sector. 
  • India is the 6^th largest marine capture fish producer (1/3^rd of the total fish production). 
  • India has 13 coastal States and UTs, a coastline of 7,516 km, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.20 million sq. km. 
  • India has 5 million active marine fishermen, with around 50% of the workforce being women.